City of Naperville Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee met Aug. 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
A. CALL TO ORDER:
Novack called the Naperville Riverwalk Planning, Design and Construction Committee (PDC) meeting to order at 7:32 a.m. The meeting was held in the lunchroom of the Naperville Municipal Center located at 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL.
B. ROLL CALL:
Present: John Cuff; Jan Erickson; Bill Novack; Tom Stibbe; and Carl Wohlt (Not enough members present to establish a quorum, so no action taken over the course of the meeting)
Absent: Valla Aguilar; Pam Bartlett; Jeff Friant, PDC Chairman; Mary Gibson; Ian Holzhauer; Pat Kennedy, Riverwalk Commission Chairman; and Mike Sullivan
Also Present: Rebecca DeLarme, City Staff; Brian Dusak, ERA; Rick Hitchcock, former Riverwalk Commission Chairman; John Mayer, ERA; Monica Goshorn-Maroney, GRWA; and Carl Peterson, GRWA
The group introduced themselves at this time to the newly appointed Riverwalk Commissioner, Carl Wohlt.
C. PUBLIC FORUM:
There was no public forum.
D. OLD BUSINESS:
1. Approval of Minutes - Bill Novack for Jeff Friant
Approve minutes from the May 3, 2022 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting
Approve minutes from the May 31, 2022 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting
Construction Committee
Approve minutes from the July 12, 2022 Planning, Design and Construction Committee meeting
No vote was taken to approve the May 3, 2022, May 31, 2022, or July 12, 2022 minutes as there was not a quorum of the Riverwalk Commissioners present.
2. Park District - Tom Stibbe
Stibbe advised spraying was occurring to keep the weeds in check and the volunteer groups continue to work in Sindt Woods and section 8 of the Riverwalk.
A plan has been developed and inspections are being done to address the leak at the fountain at Fredenhagen Park.
Stibbe and his staff are getting ready to temporarily move out of their building as their offices are being renovated. They will be operating out of the Sindt property on the Riverwalk until approximately mid-September. Centennial Beach hours will be changing on August 17th, when school starts. Please check the Park District’s website for updated hours at <http://www.centennialbeach.org>.
Hitchcock inquired about previous discussions on enhancing the level of maintenance on the Riverwalk. Stibbe advised they are looking at using outside contractors until they can get a handle on current labor issues. He has received estimates and will be finalizing bids in the next couple of weeks. They are planning to start work in section 5 and it will include general maintenance such as edging beds, mulching, light pruning, and some removal. The Park District staff will continue to perform the mowing and majority of maintenance work.
3. 2022 Riverwalk Work Plan (PA022) - Bill Novack and Tom Stibbe Novack advised they are working on identifying the leak in the fountain at Fredenhagen Park and will see if they have the funds to address the repair this year.
4. Moser Tower Rehabilitation - Bill Novack
Work continues at a slower pace as the temperature needs to be consistently at 75 degrees or cooler so the contractor can apply the exterior coating. Work is expected be completed in October.
Construction Committee
5. Riverwalk Master Plan - Bill Novack for Pat Kennedy
Hitchcock discussed the upcoming Riverwalk presentation to the Naperville Downtown Advisory Committee. After a brief discussion regarding availability and the timeline for new presentation materials, it was decided that it should be scheduled for their November 7, 2022 meeting. Hitchcock will follow up with the committee.
Novack provided an update from Joseph. They have had conversations with a variety of groups which have yielded good insights into our communications and planning for the 2031 Riverwalk initiatives. The
PowerPoint and script to be used in additional meetings are being developed and should be completed by the end of August. More updates will be given at the next Riverwalk Commission meeting.
6. Riverwalk Master Plan Signage - Bill Novack
Novack advised that the sign additions are currently on hold due to the Riverwalk Foundation’s preference to not have a QR code directing donors to their website to make donations for the Master Plan.
7. Riverwalk Master Plan CIP/Budget Review - Bill Novack
Receive the Riverwalk 2023 CIP Planning Worksheet
Novack reviewed the list of Riverwalk Master Plan projects provided in the revised 2023 CIP Planning Worksheet that was provided in the agenda packet. Hitchcock provided a brief summary of the City’s five-year capital improvement plan and the purpose for the worksheet for Wohlt. Novack advised that all Master Plan projects have been included except for the Main Street to Washington Street Riverwalk and the East Bank Riverwalk.
Discussion followed on preliminary design costs, contingencies, and current marketplace circumstances.
Novack advised about the upcoming budget workshops with City Council, noting that the CIP preview with Council will be held at 7:00 p.m. on September 26, 2022, the last Monday of the month. Hitchcock noted the importance of having the Commissioners present. Novack requested that Dusak and Mayer refine any estimate information for the Eagle Street Gateway project based on preliminary design review and provide any updates to him within the next two weeks.
Discussion followed on maintenance estimates as they relate to new capital projects. Stibbe advised that the Park District will be hiring another full-time Park Specialist to the Riverwalk and also another Park
Construction Committee
Maintenance IV position that will be seasonal with benefits. Further discussion was held on the Riverwalk Maintenance Agreement, which is updated every five years. The basic premise for the agreement was that the City paid for everything east of Washington Street and the Park District paid for everything West of Washington Street, with the City paying for any new additions to the Riverwalk.
When additions to the Riverwalk are proposed Stibbe reviews the detailed plans for each new project and provides an estimate for maintenance.
Before the City bids the project, it must be approved by the Park District
Board and City Council. Novack added that due to the current labor issues, the best model going forward may be to have core staff, hire contract work for any extra maintenance, and when the extra maintenance gets to be too much, hire more full-time staff.
8. Erosion at the river bend downstream from Jefferson - Bill Novack
The object has been identified and the City’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will work to remove when the river flow is down.
9. Eagle Street Gateway preliminary design review - Brian Dusak
Dusak, John Mayer and Monica Goshorn-Maroney distributed and reviewed the revised design option for the Eagle Street Gateway project, thanking everyone for their feedback at last month’s PDC and Riverwalk
Commission meetings. They also had an internal workshop between the
ERA and GRWA team with Hitchcock. Some of the revisions include increased shade and hospitality along the walk, opportunities for lighting and plantings on the lower walk, and overall accessibility with extra points of access in multiple locations.
Peterson brought up the question of how many pavers would need to be taken out and/or replaced. Dusak noted they would remove the existing pavers and salvage what they could. Erickson inquired how many pavers are currently stored, with Stibbe saying he would have to check both new and used. Erickson noted she didn’t mind having different shades of brick as long as they were the same size.
The group also discussed the proposed steps with railing that leads from the pathway to Eagle Street, north of the midblock crossing. Erickson noted she wouldn’t want pedestrians thinking they could cross the street there, but it was agreed it was needed to help with the slope of the pathway and also to keep a foot path from being created in the same area. Mayer noted they could de-emphasize it by making the stairway narrower.
Discussion followed on the memorial tree that would need to be removed.
It appears this donor may have purchased this within the last ten years.
Construction Committee
They would need to be contacted and provided with an explanation and opportunity to move the plaque to another tree in the area, another location, or pick out a newer tree.
Hitchcock noted he would like to see additional shade trees in the lower walkway, with Stibbe agreeing and suggesting possibly ornamentals.
Discussion followed on the area below the Oliver Hoffman Pavilion and the possibility of improving the lower walkway to the stairs west of the pavilion.
Due to timing and budget constraints, they will concentrate on the area up to the west edge of the pavilion. Stibbe noted that the Park District could look at landscaping in the area up to the stairs.
Discussions and suggestions will be taken into consideration and a revised design will be presented at the next PDC meeting. The group will also present an overview at next week’s Riverwalk Commission meeting.
E. NEW BUSINESS:
There was no new business to discuss.
F. MEETING SCHEDULE:
Riverwalk Commission, August 10, 2022, 7:30 a.m.
Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL
Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, September 6, 2022, 7:30 a.m.
Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL
Riverwalk Commission, September 14, 2022, 7:30 a.m.
Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL
Riverwalk Planning, Design & Construction, October 4, 2022, 7:30 a.m.
Municipal Center Lunchroom, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville, IL
G. ADJOURNMENT:
No quorum was present and the meeting ended at 8:47 a.m.
https://naperville.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=919302&GUID=B73ECCDF-F7EC-489D-98FE-9FC311088B98
Alerts Sign-up